In Pictures: A Johnnie Walker double in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 13 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had we featured 257 in a new advert for Johnnie Walker then along came 273 which carries identical vinyls – the twentieth commercial advertising scheme to be carried on a tram in Edinburgh and the 22nd tram to currently be operating in a non-standard livery.

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Derby Castle Workshop update

Posted on Tuesday 13 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Since the Manx Electric Railway ran for the last time in early November the workshops at Derby Castle have been a hive of activity getting the fleet ready for another season with particular emphasis being on the 125th Anniversary events in September. There are more repaints this winter – to follow from those completed last winter to show several historic liveries not seen for several years – whilst there is also further attention to the major restoration of Ratchet Car 14.

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Around the World in Trams: Hiroshima 3908

Posted on Tuesday 13 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today our world tour lands in Japan with an image taken on the Hiroshima Electric Railway more commonly known as Hiroden.

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Is the Snaefell Mountain Railway under an official prohibition notice?

Posted on Monday 12 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Reports on the Isle of Man have suggested that the Snaefell Mountain Railway is under an official prohibition notice preventing its operation. This news has only just come into the public sphere but currently no official confirmation has been given that is the case. When the Snaefell Mountain Railway suspended operation in September 2017 it was thought that this was a decision taken by Isle of Man Railways in light of the concerns with the safe operation of the line but it appears that this may not now have been the case.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 11 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Another couple of new Photo Galleries have now been uploaded to the website as part of this week’s main site update:

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In Pictures: And now Edinburgh Trams 257 receives vinyls

Posted on Sunday 11 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The advertising vinyl revolution in Edinburgh sees no signs of slowing down with another tram receiving an advert for a new campaign from Johnnie Walker urging people not to drink and drive. The tram in question is 257 which receives its first advertising vinyls in the standard Edinburgh Trams style.

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In Pictures: Trackwork completed at Crich

Posted on Sunday 11 February 2018 by Andrew Waddington

The winter track renewal work at Crich Tramway Village has now been completed, and on Saturday 10th February, London Tramlink 058 was used to test the new rails, before completing a full run along the entire length of the demonstration tramway to Glory Mine – the first vehicle to do this in 2018. This was made all the more appropriate as this date marked 058‘s 40th birthday!

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In Pictures: Yet more shunting at Crich on February 10th!

Posted on Saturday 10 February 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Barely a week seems to go by without a fairly major shunting operation at Crich Tramway Village, and the latest such exercise took place on Saturday 10th February. Depot 2 is currently devoid of trams due to the ongoing depot improvement works, however as the process of commissioning the operational fleet for service ahead of the museum re-opening next month is underway, there has been a need for further re-organisation of the depots.

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1001

Posted on Saturday 10 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

We head back to Manchester for this image from the archives as Picture in Time lands just over 10 years ago in December 2007.

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Summer Hill Stables proposed for Protected Register

Posted on Saturday 10 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture have confirmed that are to submit proposals to enter the historic Summer Hill Stables, used by the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway since construction in 1877, in the Isle of Man Protected Buildings Register (the equivalent of the buildings being listed).

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First of new longer Luas trams enters service

Posted on Friday 9 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 7th February saw the introduction of the first of the new longer trams into service on Luas’ Green Line. Alstom Citadis 5027 – which was the first of seven 55 metre trams to be delivered to Dublin on 13th November 2017 – is to be used in service during the morning peak to boost capacity.

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Blackpool North Station extension “hold-up” claims denied

Posted on Friday 9 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The plans for trams to run to Blackpool North Station are still progressing as expected Councillors have been told despite claims to the contrary. At a recent council meeting, Cllr Tony Williams – who to give him his credit has been a staunch opponent of the tram plans for quite some time and doesn’t seem to be giving up any time soon – has claimed that Wilkinson’s new store will not be ready until 2020 which he has said will mean the new tramstop will not be able to be built in time for an opening of the line in 2019.

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RAIB release urgent safety advice after buggy drag incident

Posted on Thursday 8 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The aftermath of the buggy drag incident on Nottingham Express Transit in December is continuing with the RAIB finding it necessary to release urgent safety advice to all tram operators in the UK. This is advising that tram drivers should conduct checks before setting off that nothing is trapped in tram doors and not just relying on the door interlock system.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 6 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 663

Posted on Thursday 8 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

One of the most popular trams to have featured in our archive photo series is Blackpool Coronation 663 and in today’s edition it is included again with an image dating from July 1972.

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In Pictures: Sunderland Point tram update

Posted on Wednesday 7 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Back in January we included a story on a tram body which had been featured in a special Lune Tube film with the suggestion that it was an old Bradford tram although there was some debate that it may have actually originated from Bury. We have recently been contacted by Derek Redmond who cycled over to see the tram in 1960 and has provided us with more details, including some photos.

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Around the World in Trams: Kirnitzschtal 2 with trailer 22

Posted on Tuesday 6 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

We resume our world tour of trams with a trip to Germany where we take a look at the Kirnitzschtalbahn which is in the Saxony region.

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In Pictures: Crumpsall works progress

Posted on Monday 5 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we reported in January the footbridge over the tracks at Crumpsall has been removed as part of the stop upgrade works taking place to allow services from the Trafford Park line to turn there from 2020 as well as making a much more pleasing environment for passengers waiting for trams. In this pictorial update we take a look at the stop following the bridge removal.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 4 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

It is finally time for our first proper main site update of 2018 as we bring you two new Photo Galleries:

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 12

Posted on Saturday 3 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The early days of the South Yorkshire Supertram are featured in today’s Picture in Time.

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First track laid on Trafford Park line

Posted on Friday 2 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Showing that things never seem to stay still on Manchester Metrolink the first track has now been laid on the Trafford Park line – ahead of its scheduled opening in 2020. The first track was laid at Parkway Circle with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Sean Anstee, Leader of Trafford Council, and Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, all on hand for the usual photographic opportunity.

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